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Kasperski named NCAA faculty athletic representative at St. Bonaventure University

Oct 02, 2012 | ST. BONAVENTURE — Michael Kasperski, a lecturer of accounting in the School of Business at St. Bonaventure University, has been appointed to a three-year term as the university’s NCAA faculty athletic representative.

The appointment, made by Sr. Margaret Carney, O.S.F., S.T.D., university president, is effective immediately.

“Mike is a respected faculty colleague who has an appreciation for the complexities of intercollegiate athletics at the Division I level. I am thrilled that he has accepted this appointment,” said Sr. Margaret.

Kasperski will serve as a liaison between the university and the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. His role is to help maintain an appropriate balance between academics and athletics on campus.

His duties include monitoring procedures and processes to assure that student-athletes meet all NCAA, Atlantic 10 Conference and institutional eligibility requirements for financial aid, practice and competition; certifying the academic eligibility of St. Bonaventure’s student-athletes; and maintaining a high degree of visibility and availability to student-athletes on campus.

“A big part of this is being accessible to the student-athletes,” said Kasperski. “They need to know that they have somebody they can reach out to, somebody willing to help them if they have an issue or need to talk to someone.”

The role seems perfectly suited to Kasperski, who is both fan and faculty member. A native of Olean, he was a kid when Bob Lanier led St. Bonaventure to the NCAA Final Four in basketball in 1969-70.

“That really sparks an interest in a young kid, so, yes, I think athletics is important, and I can see how athletics helps focus and round out an individual,” he said. “But we can’t forget that first and foremost, students are here to get an education. It needs to be clear to our student-athletes that that is the main goal here. My responsibility is to help bridge the gap between academics and athletics.”

Kasperski succeeds Dr. Dennis Wilkins, professor of journalism and mass communication, who served as faculty athletic representative for eight years.